President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, signed Decree No. 8813 of February 18, 2022, to refer a draft law to the Parliament.
This law aims to open an exceptional additional appropriation in the 2022 general budget in the Interior and Foreign Affairs Ministries, to cover the expenses of the scheduled parliamentary elections next May 15.
The value of the appropriation is 320 billion LBP, 260 billion LBP for the Ministry of Interior, and 60 billion LBP for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Cabinet had agreed in its session last Tuesday to open this appropriation to provide the expenses of the parliamentary elections.
In addition, the President signed Decree No. 8814 on February 18, 2022, which stipulates transferring funds from the general budget reserve to the budget of the Ministry of Interior at a value of 35 billion LBP to provide the expenses of holding the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Moreover, President Aoun expressed his hope that the bill to open the exceptional additional appropriation of 320 billion Lebanese pounds will be approved as soon as possible in the Parliament so that the Ministry of Interior can complete the necessary procedures to secure the holding of the parliamentary elections on time, knowing that the Parliament is called to hold a legislative session beginning of next week.
President Aoun reiterated that the parliamentary elections will take place on time on May 15th, and stressed not to take into account rumors of a tendency to postpone elections.
Abbot Hashem:
The President met the General President of the Lebanese Maronite Congregation, Abbot Neematallah Al-Hashem, today at Baabda Palace.
Abbot Hashem was accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Order, Father Michel Abu Taqa.
General affairs were deliberated, especially the social, humanitarian and educational conditions and the role of the monastery in helping to alleviate the suffering of citizens.
The meeting also tackled a number of projects that the monastery is working to implement in various Lebanese regions, especially in the field of social and educational care.
Abbot Al-Hashem had thanked President Aoun for his sympathy on the death of the monastry’s former president, Abbot Athanasius Al-Jalakh, and awarding him a medal in appreciation of his contributions in the spiritual, national and social fields.
Source: National News Agency